Damascus running back Markus Vinson runs with the ball in the 1st half. PHOTO BY JACQUI SOUTH

GAITHERSBURG – Damascus senior Markus Vinson scored three touchdowns as he helped the Swarmin’ Hornets rally from an early deficit to win 21-13 over Quince Orchard Friday night at the Cougar Dome.

The highly anticipated matchup between defending Maryland 3A state football champion Damascus and host Quince Orchard, which earned a trip to the 4A playoffs last year, lived up to its billing, with Vinson taking center stage.

The Richmond commit rushed for more than 260 yards on 14 carries and scored three touchdowns to help Damascus extend its winning streak to 15 consecutive games dating to last season.

“He was awesome,” said Damascus head coach Eric Wallich. “He made some incredible runs. He was a workhorse tonight.”

A local high school team is sending two relay teams and a jumper to a national track meet in a couple of weeks; meanwhile two other athletes are pursuing the Junior Olympics, according to their coaches.

UPPER MARLBORO –Junior Scottie Obendorfer (126) and senior Colin McLaughlin (160) may have lost their title matches, but the state runners-up were among six Damascus wrestlers who placed within the top four of their weight classes as the Swarmin’ Hornets won their second straight and fifth overall Class 4A-3A state tournament crown at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro of Prince George’s County.

OLNEY–Damascus moved four of its 10 qualifying wrestlers into Saturday’s semifinals compared to six for frontrunner Oakdale of Frederick County, which leads by five points (61.5-to-56.5) entering the second day of Class 4A-3A state tournament competition at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro of Prince George’s County.

OLNEY– Fear can be a great motivator, especially if you choose to attack and conquer it like Damascus senior Colin McLaughlin did during Saturday’s 160-pound championship bout of the Class 4A-3A West Regional tournament at Sherwood.

McLaughlin (a 35-4 record) scored six different takedowns, only one being his signature single-leg, during a 13-4 major decision over senior Alex Cohen of Bethesda-Chevy Chase, earning his second straight regional title and leading his Swarmin’ Hornets to the overall crown over Cohen’s runner-up Battlin’ Barons.